Mihir said, "But Vedika, what if someone recognises you? You are a journalist and you are from Jaipur."
"No," I said firmly. "No one will recognise me."
"First, about being a journalist, I have always worked from the back end. My work was writing reports and articles with my byline, collecting news and information, and doing sting operations. As you know, I don't like fame or that much fan following, so I worked privately. So no one is going to recognise me from that. And even if someone has read my articles, they only know my name, not my face. So don't worry."
"And second, about being from Jaipur, I have come here very few times in these six years, and most of the time I only met my parents and you four. So I don't think anyone will recognise me."
"And for even the small risk i have a better plan so these risk will also not create hurdle."
"And what is it?"
"I will create a fake identity and make a slight change in my look."
"Fake identity?"
I nodded. "Yes. This is very common in sting operations like this."
"Okay, got it. But there is still one problem. How will you get into Zyvora?"
I thought for a moment and then opened my laptop. I searched for Zyvora Systems and went straight to the Vacancies tab on their website.
Mihir looked at the screen and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Finding the answer to your question," I replied.
He frowned slightly. "Matlab?"
(Meaning?)
I turned the laptop toward him and pointed at the vacancy page.
"Ab employee banna hai to job toh dhundni padegi na."
(If I have to become an employee, I'll have to find a job, right?)
He nodded slowly. "Yeah, right. But what job will you even do? You're a journalist. How will you manage a corporate role?"
"That's why I am finding something which I can actually do," I said.
He leaned back in his chair, thinking.
"But Vedika," he said seriously, "you will need a higher-level position. Otherwise how will you keep an eye on the management? How will you know their plan? Middle or lower-level employees don't have access to these things."
I paused.
He was right.
"To find their plan, I will need access to documents, meetings, and internal information," I said slowly. "And that is only possible if I have enough authority to move around without anyone suspecting me."
I looked at him.
"You have such a big company yourself. Tell me what kind of job I can do with my knowledge. In my fake resume I can write anything, but I will still have to do the work there properly until I find something. I can't get caught so soon. So tell me."
He thought for a few seconds and then said, "You can be a secretary to any top-level member."
I quickly searched for a secretary position.
But there was none.
I sighed. "No vacancy for that. Don't you have any other option?"
"I have many," he said, "but it should match your skills. You are a journalist and corporate work is different."
I continued scrolling.
Suddenly Mihir leaned forward.
"Wait... stop there."
I looked at the screen.
Management Executive - MD Office
Mihir pointed at it.
"That might actually work."
I raised my eyebrows. "Management Executive?"
"Yes," he said. "It's an administrative role. You will be coordinating meetings, handling documents, preparing reports, and assisting the Managing Director's office."
I thought for a moment.
"But I have never worked in a corporate environment before."
Mihir shook his head slightly.
"Vedika, your work as a journalist already involves half of these skills."
I looked at him, confused. "How?"
"You investigate people, analyse information, organise reports, handle sensitive documents, and attend meetings with sources," he said. "That's exactly what this job requires too. The only difference is the environment."
That made sense.
"As a Management Executive," he continued, "you will be preparing summaries, coordinating schedules, and managing information for the MD's office. Your research skills will actually help you more than anyone else there."
A small smile appeared on my face.
"So basically, my journalism skills will help me survive in a corporate office."
"Exactly,"
I looked back at the screen again.
Management Executive - MD Office
And then I remembered the name.
Suryansh Oberoi.
The Managing Director
The man with no photos, no interviews... nothing.
So this is how we will meet, I thought.
Let's see what kind of mystery you really are.
"Where are you lost?"
I came out of my thoughts.
"Nothing. Just thinking about what fake identity I should take... I mean, what name."
Just then, a file slipped from my hand from Mihir's desk.
I bent down and picked it up.
It looked like an employee list.
And my eyes stopped at one name.
Prisha Agarwal.
I paused for a second.
Nice.
That sounded good.
I looked at Mihir.
"I've decided my fake name. It will be Prisha Mehra. How is it?"
He smiled. "Not bad. Actually, it's great."
"But what about the documents to verify your identity? You will need them."
I thought for a moment and then smiled.
"That's not a big problem. It will be ready in minutes."
He looked surprised. "How?"
"One minute. I'll show you."
I picked up my phone and called someone.
"Hello SK. I need all important documents like Aadhar, PAN, driving licence, etc., and a resume for the position of Management Executive with the name Prisha Mehra. I will message you all the other details. Okay. Thank you."
I disconnected the call.
"Who did you call?"
"SK. He is the person who is an expert in creating fake documents. No one can identify whether they are fake or not. I know him through some cases I worked on. All the fake identities I have used for my sting operations were made by him."
He looked impressed. "Wow. I didn't know you had so many contacts."
I smirked. "I am a journalist. We have to make contacts to do our work. I have many more. You don't know."
"Right. I am just a simple businessman. How would I know all this?"
I laughed.
"Seriously? Simple? Jhooth bolte hue thodi si bhi sharam nahi aa rahi na?
("Seriously? Simple? Aren't you even a little ashamed while lying?")
"Kya jhooth bola maine?"
("What lie did I tell?")
I said, "Simple toh tu nahi hai. Itni badi textile industries ka CEO hai aur khud ko simple bol raha hai."
("You are not simple. You are the CEO of such big textile industries and calling yourself simple.")
He raised his hands in surrender.
"Okay baba, maaf kar de. Muh se nikal gaya tha. Ab theek hai?"
("Okay, forgive me. It just slipped out. Is it okay now?")
"Haan."
("Yes")
Then I became serious again.
"Mihir, I am thinking that I will apply and also give the interview. But what if someone else gets selected? I have not done this job before. Many people can be better than me."
He smiled confidently.
"Don't worry. You will be selected."
I narrowed my eyes. "And how are you so sure?"
"You will get the job through reference.
"I have also some contacts." He said proudly.
I hesitated.
"But taking a reference... it's not right. I can't."
"I know," he said calmly. "And I also don't support it. But to find the truth, you have to enter that company. And to make sure you get the job, we have to use that."
"But still, there will be an interview. Only a few people will be selected for it. And I know you can handle that."
I took a deep breath.
"Yeah... you're right. To find the truth, it's necessary."
He nodded.
"Okay. One more thing. What will you tell uncle and aunty when they ask?"
"I am not going to tell them that I am doing this," I said. "They will get stressed."
"But they will see you going to the office every day," he said.
I thought for a moment.
"No. I will not stay at home."
"If I stay there, there is a risk. If someone finds out about me, it can put my parents in danger."
"And I also have to give an address to the office. If I give my home address, they will know I am Vedika, not Prisha."
"So I have to do something so that my parents don't get in danger and my identity also doesn't get revealed."
I paused.
Then suddenly
"Idea."
"I will tell my parents that I got a new job in Mumbai and I am going back there. So they will be relaxed."
"But I will take a small apartment on rent in Jaipur and stay there."
He nodded.
"Yeah. That is a good option."
"I will arrange that for you."
"Okay."
After all other discussions in evening, I returned home.
I sent the new address to SK to make the documents.
I also got a new number registered under the name Prisha Mehra.
And then...
I applied for the job of Management Executive.
With the name-
Prisha Mehra.
A new name.
A new identity.